Friction slide rail assembly with overmold bearing shell

Abstract

A slide assembly is provided including a first slide segment, a reinforcing member and an overmold shell. The first slide segment defines a first sliding surface and a second sliding surfaces. The overmold shell is molded around at least a portion of the reinforcing member to form a second slide segment with a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface. The first slide segment and the second slide segment positioned such that the first sliding surface of the second slide segment is slidable along the first sliding surface of the first slide segment and the second sliding surface of the second slide segment slidable along the second sliding surface of the first slide segment to control the sliding of the first slide segment and the second slide segment relative to one another.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A slide assembly, comprising: a first slide segment with a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface;   a reinforcing member;   an overmold shell molded around at least a portion of said reinforcing member to form a second slide segment with a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface, said first slide segment and said second slide segment positioned such that the first sliding surface of the second slide segment is slidable along said first sliding surface of said first slide segment and the second sliding surface of the second slide segment slidable along said second sliding surface of said first slide segment to control the sliding of said first slide segment and said second slide segment relative to one another, wherein the interaction of said first sliding surface of said first slide segment and said first sliding surface of said second slide segment and the interaction of said second sliding surface of said first slide segment and said second sliding surface of said second slide segment limit the vertical movement of said first segment and said second segment relative to one another, said first slide segment further comprising a third sliding surface and a fourth sliding surface, and said second slide segment further comprising a third sliding surface and a fourth sliding surface, wherein said third sliding surface of said first slide segment is slidable along said third sliding surface of said second slide segment and said fourth sliding surface of said first slide segment is slidable along said fourth sliding surface of said second slide segment, thereby limiting horizontal movement of said first segment and said second segment relative to one another, said second slide segment comprising a single piece, said overmold shell further comprising a series of raised spacing projections, wherein at least a number of said series of raised spacing projections define mounting apertures.   
     
     
       2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said reinforcing member comprises a C-shaped cross-section comprising a first leg, a second leg and a connecting portion. 
     
     
       3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said overmold shell substantially encases said first leg and said second leg of said reinforcing member. 
     
     
       4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said first slide segment comprises a single piece. 
     
     
       5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein one of said slide segments is positioned substantially within the other. 
     
     
       6. A slide assembly, comprising: a first slide segment with a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface;   a one-piece metal reinforcing member having a generally C-shaped cross-section, said reinforcing member comprising a first leg, a second leg and a connecting portion, said first leg having an inner surface and an outer surface, said second leg having an inner surface and an outer surface and said connecting portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;   an overmold shell of an internally lubricated thermoplastic, molded around at least a portion of said reinforcing member to form a second slide segment, said overmold shell covering substantially all of said outer surface and substantially all of said inner surface of said first leg, said overmold shell covering substantially all of said outer surface and substantially all of said inner surface of said second leg, said second slide segment defining a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface, said first slide segment and said second slide segment positioned such that the first sliding surface of the second slide segment is slidable along said first sliding surface of said first slide segment and the second sliding surface of the second slide segment slidable along said second sliding surface of said first slide segment to control the sliding of said first slide segment and said second slide segment relative to one another.   
     
     
       7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said overmold shell covers substantially all of said outer surface of said connecting portion of said reinforcing member. 
     
     
       8. The slide assembly of claim 6, wherein said shell has a thickness of about six-hundredths of an inch. 
     
     
       9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the interaction of said first sliding surface of said first slide segment and said first sliding surface of said second slide segment and the interaction of said second sliding surface of said first slide segment and said second sliding surface of said second slide segment limit the vertical movement of said first segment and said second segment relative to one another. 
     
     
       10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said first slide segment further comprises a third sliding surface and a fourth sliding surface, and said second slide segment further comprises a third sliding surface and a fourth sliding surface, and said third sliding surface of said first slide segment is slidable along said third sliding surface of said second slide segment and said fourth sliding surface of said first slide segment is slidable along said fourth sliding surface of said second slide segment, thereby limiting horizontal movement of said first segment and said second segment relative to one another. 
     
     
       11. The slide assembly of claim 6, wherein said shell comprises a lubricated nylon composite.